INTERNATIONAL nurses from overseas will help Bradford's hospitals as they restart routine services which were halted by the pandemic.

Bamidele Abiona and Ahamba Cinoline, from Nigeria, and Walter Boateng, from Ghana, are the first arrivals from a group of 48 nurses from overseas who have accepted jobs at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

These nurses will prove invaluable in supporting hospital teams to care for patients as the Trust continues to restart many of its routine services following the pandemic and ensures it is prepared for winter pressures later in the year.

“I’ve been made to feel at home – even though I’m not at home,” said Ahamba. “When I was searching for which hospital to work at in the UK I liked Bradford because it’s a big hospital, but also because I felt I could fit in and settle here.”

Other new recruits will join over the summer from India, Qatar, Saudi, Zimbabwe, St Lucia, Kenya, Swaziland, Botswana, South America, Jamaica, Guyana and Barbados.

Chief Nurse, Karen Dawber, said: “These are still strange times for us all, and in particular for the nurses who have moved from overseas to join our work family.

“It’s fantastic that we are able to benefit from the skills of these enthusiastic, dedicated and talented people. They have made the decision to emigrate to develop their professional skills, often leaving family behind.

“They will help bolster our current nursing workforce to ensure we are providing the best care for our patients.”